roasted potatoes Archives - Proud Italian Cook

Perfect Potato Salads for Summer Entertaining

June 26, 2019 by Marie 8 Comments

Way back in 2007 when I started this blog I posted an Italian potato salad, fast forward almost twelve years later ( still can’t believe it’s been that long!) and I still continue to make it.

Italian potato salad is such a classic dish, it’s the perfect side so it’s great for parties, picnic’s and celebrations. There’s no mayo involved so no need to worry about anything spoiling as it sits out at your party.

The photo above is a crowd size amount that I made for a family cookout that I was having. Don’t get caught up on amounts and exact measurements when making this, it’s a simple process it’s all about visual balance and your taste preference as far as seasonings go.

I used those teeny red, white and blue potatoes, I like the different colors, but you can certainly use all red which is more a traditional Italian potato salad.

Since 2007 I’ve changed up my recipe a bit. I always use to boil my potatoes but now I roast them. Don’t get me wrong, boiling is fine but I much prefer the taste of a roasted potato, plus I don’t like the texture of a some what mushy potato, but again, that’s just my preference, but I would encourage you to try it this way by roasting the potatoes, plus I think the presentation looks much nicer.

1. The ingredients in my Italian potato salad are: Roasted potatoes, some sliced, some whole depending on how big they are, roasted at 425F until fork tender.

2. Steamed green beans, I prefer haricort verts, red onion rings, kalamata olives and sliced cherry tomatoes.

3. Place everything into a large bowl and season with salt and pepper, granulated garlic and oregano, taste as you go to your liking.

4. The dressing is: 3 parts olive oil, 1 part red wine vinegar, 1 t. dijon, 1 garlic clove, 1 t.oregano, salt and pepper and a squeeze of fresh lemon. Whisk it up, drizzle and toss. Place the salad onto a nice platter.

Next is my Red, White and Blue potato salad, perfect for the 4th of July! Again I used those teeny colored potatoes and when you cut them in half the vibrant color really shows through.

1.These are roasted as well in a 425F oven, drizzled with olive oil along with chunks of sweet red bell pepper, finished when fork tender.

2. When they become fork tender, which doesn’t take long, toss them into a bowl and add chopped red onion or shallots, snipped chives, sliced scallions, fresh parsley, salt and pepper to taste with lots of grated strands of lemon

3.Whisk up fresh squeezed lemon and olive oil for your dressing and pour it all over and toss, as it sits it just gets better and better as all the flavors start to absorb.

Next up is this Grilled Sweet Potato Salad, If you never grilled sweet a potato you’re missing out. Cooking sweet potatoes this way gives them a crisp charred edge and a slight smokiness that contrasts well with the sweetness of the potatoes, it’s delicious and a nice change.

Preheat grill to medium. Peel sweet potatoes and slice into 1/2 inch thick rounds. Place on a grill that has been sprayed with olive oil spray.
Also on the grill add some colored mini peppers and a couple of ears of corn because these will all be added to the salad along with the sweet potatoes. Remove when tender and slightly charred.
When everything cools down, shuck the corn, slice the mini peppers and toss them into a large bowl with some chopped parsley, green onion and arugula.
Arrange everything onto a pretty platter and drizzle with the dressing.
Honey Mustard Vinaigrette: 1/2 cup olive oil, 2 T. apple cider vinegar, 2 T. Dijon, 1 T. honey, 1 garlic clove, whisk all together. Feel free to double or triple the recipe.

All of these potato salads are a nice addition to your summer buffet table, they can sit out safely and they all taste delicious at room temperature, so enjoy!

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8 Comments Filed Under: Party Foods, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegetables Tagged: 4th of July, grilled sweet potato salad, Italian Potato Salad, potato salad, red white and blue potato salad, roasted potatoes, teeny potatoes

Party Worthy Roasted Potato Salad

May 1, 2018 by Marie 18 Comments

This roasted potato salad is a must for summer parties, graduations and backyard BBQs. It’s healthy, vibrant in color with lots of crunch with a much lighter take on the classic potato salad because this one is not ladened down with heavy mayo.

Another benefit of no mayo is that it can sit out on a warm sunny day and you won’t have to worry about it going bad.

Look for the petite sized potatoes, when cut in half they’re a nice bite size. I used red and white, but the tri-color with the purple potatoes would be nice as well

Make sure you don’t over roast them, or dowse them with too much olive oil, they’ll be coated with the dressing later, just toss them into a bowl with a little drizzle to coat them, add in salt and pepper then put them on a sheet pan in a 425F oven.

Mine took about fifteen minutes turning them over once, you want them tender but on the firm side.

The crunch factor comes from sliced rainbow colored mini peppers, sliced radishes, red and green onion along with fresh arugula, olives, chives and parsley.

You don’t really need exact amounts for this depending on how big your platter will be and how many potatoes you’ll be making. I like to mix everything together in a big bowl first, slicing the veggies and adding the rest as I go along making sure it looks balanced with color and crunch, adding the arugula last by handfuls.

The dressing is made with equal amounts of olive oil and fresh lemon juice, a squeeze of dijon and 1 garlic clove, whisked together and spooned over the top.

The potatoes can be roasted the day before or the morning of, they should be at room temp or chilled before adding the other ingredients, not hot from the oven.

It’s colorful and vibrant and it makes the perfect party dish and side to almost anything you’ll be grilling up this season.

Follow along on my Instagram to see what else I’m cooking up during the week.

5.0 from 3 reviews

Party Worthy Roasted Potato Salad

You don't need exact ingredients for this, it depends on how many potatoes you roast, just add the veggies and herbs to your liking making sure it's balanced with everything.

Author: Marie

Ingredients

mini petite potatoes, drizzled with olive oil, salt and pepper, cut in half roasted in a 425F oven for about 15 minutes turning once and making sure they are fork tender but still firm. Let them cool down.
sliced rainbow colored mini peppers
thin sliced radishes
small nicoise olives, drained
chopped red and green onion
fresh arugula
chives and parsley
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Place the roasted potatoes and everything else into a big bowl, add all the other ingredients, tasting as you go along and making sure you have enough to make it look balanced.
Carefully toss with your clean hands and place the salad onto a pretty platter.
Spoon the dressing all over it.
THE DRESSING;
Equal parts of olive oil, fresh lemon juice, one garlic clove, a squeeze of dijon, salt and pepper.
Whisk it up to incorporate.
NOTE: The potatoes can be done the morning of or day before, then mix with everything else shortly before serving.

18 Comments Filed Under: Party Foods, Side Dishes, Vegetables Tagged: potato salad, roasted potato salad, roasted potatoes

Game Day Eats

January 29, 2015 by Marie 14 Comments

Whether you’re a true football fan or just one that likes to watch the commercials and the halftime shows like I do, you’ll need some good food to munch on this Sunday. Here’s a few more ideas in case you want to add a little something more to your table.

My version of Firecracker Shrimp. It’s so simple to put together, just butterfly your shrimp because you’re going to stuff it with a mixture of good Cheddar and goat cheese, or cream cheese if you prefer. Into the cheese mixture add diced jalapeno, as hot as you like, diced green onion, salt and pepper. Then do your self a favor and make your bacon in the oven, on foil, at 400 until soft and still pliable.

Take a dollop of the cheese mixture and place it on top of each of the butterflied shrimp, the ratio of cheese I like to use is 2 parts goat or cream cheese to one part Cheddar.

I personally don’t like to wrap my shrimp in bacon because all I taste is bacon and not the shrimp too much, so I just place a nice thick piece on top of the cheese mixture, nestle it right on top. But if you prefer to wrap the whole thing up, go for it but buy some thin cut bacon, mine is always too thick.

Sprinkle each shrimp with a cajun seasoning, a quick drizzle of olive oil and bake on a foil lined baking sheet at 400 until shrimp turns nice and pink and the cheese is melting.

Or how about a gooey Mediterranean Style Grilled Cheese Sandwich? It will satisfy your soul!

Get some good hearty bread, fresh mozzarella and feta for the cheese, or any other good melting cheese, like Brie or Fontina, then layer on arugula, roasted red pepper, olives and marinated artichoke hearts. Slather both sides of the bread with butter and cook till golden and all the cheese starts oozing out.

You can serve your grilled cheese with these irresistible Roasted Fingerling Potatoes. Make a bunch because they go fast!

No real recipe here just cut them in half, put them in a bowl and sprinkle them well with olive oil, oregano, garlic powder, paprika, rosemary, romano cheese, sea salt and pepper. Toss well and place on a baking sheet into a 425 hot oven until golden and crispy, keep checking and turning them. If you have a convection setting like I do, use that, they crisp up really nice and fast.

I love these Buffalo Chicken Meatballs, ( you can use turkey also). Blue cheese, carrot, celery, onion all packed inside each one, then baked and drenched in hot sauce and butter, so good, one bite wonders! I got the recipe here.